On to the Sweet 16! Bulldogs Beat Middle Tennessee

PUBLISHED ON Mar 18 2017

Butler advanced to its first Sweet 16 since 2011 with a 74-65 win over Middle Tennessee State Saturday night in Milwaukee. The Bulldogs advance to play Friday in Memphis against North Carolina, which defeated Arkansas, 72-65.

The Bulldogs are now 25-8 on the season. Middle Tennessee State, the 12th seed in the South Region, finishes the season at 31-5.

The biggest shot of the night belonged to senior Andrew Chrabascz. Butler had built a 12-point lead with 7:18 remaining in the game. MTSU then scored the next nine points to pull within three at 59-56 with 3:40 to play. On the ensuing play, coach Chris Holtmann called Chrabascz's number, getting him involved in a two-man game that resulted in a wide-open look from the left wing. The senior knocked it down to push the lead back to six.

"Really proud of our guys. We beat a really good team in Middle Tennessee," said Holtmann. "We've got so much respect for how Kermit (Davis)'s team plays and how they compete. And we saw it in film for the last, you know, 36 hours and impressed. I loved our guys. I loved the fight they showed possession after possession. And players win games. We've got really good players and they had a heck of an effort."

Middle Tennessee State would not get any closer than five the rest of the way after Chrabascz's three-pointer as Butler went 10 of 12 from the free throw line down the stretch.

The Bulldogs shot 51 percent in the contest, jumping out to an early lead by hitting six of their first seven attempts from behind the arc. That catapulted the Bulldogs to a 35-22 lead with 4:28 to play in the first half. MTSU responded with six straight points and eventually pulled within 36-31 at the half.

Butler steadily built the lead in the second half, capped by a Kelan Martin three that game Butler the 59-47 lead with 7:18 remaining.

Martin led the Bulldogs with 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting. He and Kethan Savage each pulled down six rebounds. Chrabascz added 15 points with 13 of those coming in the second half. Freshman Kamar Baldwin had 13 points. He, Martin and Tyler Lewis each had four assists as the Bulldogs helped on 16 of their 24 made field goals.

The Bulldogs advance to their sixth Sweet 16 (1962, 2003, 2007, 2010, and 2011) with the win. Butler is now 10-0 in the NCAA Tournament against teams seeded lower than the Bulldogs. Butler is the No. 4 seed in the South Region.

Butler never trailed in the game. Butler out-scored MTSU, 14-0, on points off turnovers.

Media contact:
John Dedman
jdedman@butler.edu
317-940-9414

On to the Sweet 16! Bulldogs Beat Middle Tennessee

Butler advanced to its first Sweet 16 since 2011 with a 74-65 win over Middle Tennessee State Saturday night in Milwaukee.

Holtmann Signs Contract Extension Through 2024-25

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PUBLISHED ON Apr 28 2017

Following one of the most successful seasons in program history, Butler and head coach Chris Holtmann have agreed to a contract extension. Holtmann’s deal at Butler now runs through the 2024-25 season, Butler Vice President/Director of Athletics Barry Collier announced on Friday, April 28.

Financial terms were not released.

“Chris is a tremendous ambassador for Butler and the Butler Way, and his leadership has resulted in success both on and off the court for the talented young men in our program,” said Collier. “This commitment – both by our university and by Chris – allows the momentum within our program to continue.”

Holtmann has led the Bulldogs to a 70-31 record in his three seasons as head coach at Butler, including a 25-9 mark this season. The Bulldogs advanced to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2011. Butler's 2016-17 season included a 14-5 regular-season record against 12 teams that made the 2017 tournament field. The Bulldogs had non-conference wins over Arizona, Cincinnati, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Vermont, and Bucknell, in addition to a pair of wins over Villanova.

“I'm confident in the continued success of our men's basketball program with Chris guiding our team,” said Butler President James Danko. “Our coaching staff and student-athletes represent Butler and our mission extremely well on a national stage. To have a basketball program among the top tier nationally, it is vital to have an exemplary leader in place -- and we certainly have that person in Chris.”

This marked the third consecutive season that Butler has made the NCAA Tournament and won at least one NCAA Tournament game under Holtmann. He joins Roy Williams, John Calipari and Mike Brey as the only active coaches to lead their current teams to NCAA Tournament wins each of their first three seasons.

“Butler truly is a special place, and my family and I are thankful to be part of a great academic institution and an athletics department that is a source of pride for those who embrace Butler and The Butler Way,” said Holtmann. “Our student-athletes, our staff, and so many throughout our campus are remarkable at what they do, and I’m excited to continue to work alongside them.

“Our family and staff are grateful for the incredible leadership and support of Barry Collier and President Danko. There is significant work ahead as we look to continue the outstanding success this program has experienced over a number of years. We look forward to that work.”

Picked to finish sixth in the preseason BIG EAST coaches poll, Butler posted a 12-6 BIG EAST mark to place second in the league standings. Those same BIG EAST coaches selected Holtmann as the conference’s Coach of the Year.

Holtmann is the 2016-17 recipient of the John McLendon Award, presented annually by CollegeInsider.com to college basketball's coach of the year. Additionally, for the second time in his three seasons at Butler, Holtmann was named a finalist for the Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award.

Holtmann was named Butler's 23rd men's basketball head coach in January of 2015, after serving for three months as interim head coach. He guided the 2014-15 Bulldogs to a 23-11 record, and followed that with a 22-11 mark in his second season. Including three seasons as the head coach at Gardner-Webb, Holtmann has 114 career wins.

Andrew Chrabascz earned 2016-17 first-team All-BIG EAST honors under Holtmann, while Kelan Martin was selected to the All-BIG EAST second team. Kamar Baldwin was voted on to the BIG EAST’s five-member All-Freshman Team. Martin and Baldwin are among five players expected to return who averaged at least 10 minutes of action per game this season. That group joins the highest-ranked recruiting class in Butler history.

Picked to finish sixth in the preseason BIG EAST coaches poll, Butler posted a 12-6 BIG EAST mark to place second in the league standings. Those same BIG EAST coaches selected Holtmann as the conference’s Coach of the Year.

Picked to finish sixth in the preseason BIG EAST coaches poll, Butler posted a 12-6 BIG EAST mark to place second in the league standings. Those same BIG EAST coaches selected Holtmann as the conference’s Coach of the Year.

Celebration of Joel Cornette's Life to Be Held at Hinkle

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PUBLISHED ON Aug 17 2016

A celebration of Joel Cornette's life will be held at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Monday, August 22, at 11 a.m. The service is open to the public. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. Attendees are invited to park in the main Hinkle lot (please utilize the parking garage near Scotty's Brewhouse if the main Hinkle lot becomes full). Please enter through Gates 2 and 3.

Cornette, who was a key member of Butler's first Sweet 16 team, passed away early on the morning of August 16 due to natural causes. He was 35. One of the most popular student-athletes in Butler history, he was known for his outgoing personality, quick wit, trademark smile, and toughness that so many identify with Butler teams, especially of his era. He embodied The Butler Way.

On the court, Cornette helped the Bulldogs to a record of 100-30 in his four seasons (1999-2003). Butler made three

NCAA Tournament appearances in his four years, including the program's first Sweet 16 in 2003. The Bulldogs also made the NIT in 2002. He scored 1,100 career points and pulled down 712 rebounds, marks that are 33rd and tenth respectively in Butler history. His 144 career blocks and .544 career field goal percentage also rank among the Top 10 in Butler history.

Cornette was named to the Midwestern Collegiate Conference/Horizon League All-Defensive Team in 2000-01, 2001-02 and 2002-03. He earned second-team All-League honors in 2002-03. Cornette served on the Butler coaching staff for the 2006-07 season as the team's coordinator of basketball operations before going to Iowa as a member of Todd Lickliter's staff. Cornette grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, starring for St. Xavier High School. An NBPA-certified player-agent, Cornette served as the Director of Basketball Recruiting at Priority Sports since January 2012.

Memorial service arrangements will be forthcoming from his family.
Media contact:
John Dedman
jdedman@butler.edu
317-940-9414

One of the most popular student-athletes in Butler history, he was known for his outgoing personality, quick wit, trademark smile, and toughness that so many identify with Butler teams, especially of his era. He embodied The Butler Way.

One of the most popular student-athletes in Butler history, he was known for his outgoing personality, quick wit, trademark smile, and toughness that so many identify with Butler teams, especially of his era. He embodied The Butler Way.

President Danko's Message Regarding Coach Holtmann's Departure

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PUBLISHED ON Jun 09 2017

Dear Butler University Community Members,

Chris Holtmann, head coach of the Butler University men’s basketball team, informed Vice President and Director of Athletics Barry Collier and me late Thursday that he had accepted a position at The Ohio State University. Chris has been a tremendous ambassador for Butler over the past several years. Our team has enjoyed great success on the court, in the classroom, and in the community.

Please join me in thanking Chris for his leadership and wishing him, Lori, and Nora continued success as they begin this new endeavor.

While this news will disappoint many within our community, we have great days ahead of us—in academics, athletics, and beyond.

Our men’s basketball program has enjoyed success at the highest levels for several decades, and I am confident that it will continue to do so. Butler University is committed to supporting a program that will continue to be among the best in the BIG EAST and on a national level.

I have great confidence in Barry Collier to identify the next dynamic leader of our program. Butler will hire someone who embodies The Butler Way—someone who will spearhead success on the court, while also leading a program that makes our University proud.

Thank you for your continued support of Butler University. We look forward to introducing you to Butler’s next basketball coach soon.